U.S. patent application number 14/497771 was filed with the patent office on 2015-02-19 for method and apparatus for establishing direct tunnel.
The applicant listed for this patent is Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Caixia Qi, Yu Yin.
Application Number | 20150049719 14/497771 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49258072 |
Filed Date | 2015-02-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150049719 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Qi; Caixia ; et al. |
February 19, 2015 |
Method and Apparatus for Establishing Direct Tunnel
Abstract
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for
establishing a direct tunnel, which relate to the field of
communications network technologies and can reduce the number of
signaling messages that need to be processed on a GGSN or an SGW
and reduce signaling load on the GGSN or the SGW. In the
embodiments of the present invention, a mobility management network
element determines that a character of a user terminal satisfies a
preset condition for establishing a direct tunnel; a request
message is sent to a gateway to establish a downlink direct tunnel
between a radio access network and the gateway; and a response
message sent by the gateway is received, where the response message
is used to confirm that the downlink direct tunnel between the
radio access network and the gateway has been successfully
established.
Inventors: |
Qi; Caixia; (Shanghai,
CN) ; Yin; Yu; (Shanghai, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. |
Shenzhen |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
49258072 |
Appl. No.: |
14/497771 |
Filed: |
September 26, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/CN2012/073171 |
Mar 28, 2012 |
|
|
|
14497771 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
370/329 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 76/16 20180201;
H04W 76/12 20180201; H04W 76/19 20180201 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/329 |
International
Class: |
H04W 76/02 20060101
H04W076/02 |
Claims
1. A method for establishing a direct tunnel the method,
comprising: determining, by a mobility management network element,
that a character of a user terminal satisfies a preset condition
for establishing a direct tunnel; sending a request message to a
gateway to establish a downlink direct tunnel between a radio
access network and the gateway; and receiving a response message
sent by the gateway to confirm that the downlink direct tunnel
between the radio access network and the gateway has been
successfully established.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, before determining
that the character of the user terminal satisfies the preset
condition for establishing a direct tunnel, the method further
comprises: sending a radio access bearer assignment request to the
radio access network to establish an uplink direct tunnel between
the radio access network and the gateway, wherein the radio access
bearer assignment request comprises a user plane internet protocol
address of the gateway and an uplink user plane tunnel endpoint
identifier allocated by the gateway; and receiving a radio access
bearer assignment response sent by the radio access network,
wherein the radio access bearer assignment response is used to
confirm that the uplink direct tunnel between the radio access
network and the gateway has been successfully established.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the character of the
user terminal comprises at least one of a signaling character of
the user terminal and a service attribute of the user terminal;
wherein the signaling character of the user terminal comprises at
least one of a frequency of switch between a connected state and an
idle state of the user terminal and a type of the user terminal;
and wherein the service attribute of the user terminal comprises at
least one of a duration of a service corresponding to a packet data
protocol (PDP) context of the user terminal or a bearer context of
the user terminal, a type of the service, a duration of downlink
data packets corresponding to the PDP context of the user terminal
or the bearer context of the user terminal, a quantity of the
downlink data packets, traffic of the downlink data packets, and a
time interval between the downlink data packets.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the preset condition
for establishing a direct tunnel is configured on the mobility
management network element.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the preset condition
for establishing a direct tunnel is configured on an operation and
maintenance network element or a parameter delivery network element
and is delivered to the mobility management network element.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining that the
character of the user terminal satisfies the preset condition for
establishing a direct tunnel comprises: counting a frequency of
switch between a connected state and a idle state of the user
terminal; and determining that the frequency falls in a preset
frequency range.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining that the
character of the user terminal satisfies the preset condition for
establishing a direct tunnel comprises determining that a type of
the user terminal falls in a preset type range.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining that the
character of the user terminal satisfies the preset condition for
establishing a direct tunnel comprises: counting, by the mobility
management network element, a duration of a received service
corresponding to a PDP context of the user terminal or a bearer
context of the user terminal, and determining that the duration
falls in a preset duration range; or counting, by the mobility
management network element, a a quantity of downlink data packets
corresponding to the PDP context of the user terminal or the bearer
context of the user terminal, and determining that the quantity
falls in a preset quantity range; or counting, by the mobility
management network element, traffic of the downlink data packets
corresponding to the PDP context of the user terminal or the bearer
context of the user terminal, and determining that the traffic
falls in a preset traffic range; or counting, by the mobility
management network element, a time interval between the downlink
data packets corresponding to the PDP context of the user terminal
or the bearer context of the user terminal, and determining that
the time interval falls in a preset time interval range.
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining that the
character of the user terminal satisfies the preset condition for
establishing a direct tunnel comprises determining that a type of a
service corresponding to a PDP context of the user terminal or a
bearer context of the user terminal is a preset service type.
10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the gateway is a data
gateway or a serving gateway.
11. An apparatus used for establishing a direct tunnel, the
apparatus comprising: a determining unit, configured to determine
that a character of a user terminal satisfies a preset condition
for establishing a direct tunnel; a sending unit, configured to
send a request message to a gateway to establish a downlink direct
tunnel between a radio access network and the gateway; and a
receiving unit, configured to receive a response message sent by
the gateway to confirm that the downlink direct tunnel between the
radio access network and the gateway has been successfully
established.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein: the sending unit
is further configured to send a radio access bearer assignment
request to the radio access network to establish an uplink direct
tunnel between the radio access network and the gateway, wherein
the radio access bearer assignment request comprises a user plane
internet protocol (IP) address of the gateway and an uplink user
plane tunnel endpoint identifier allocated by the gateway; and the
receiving unit is further configured to receive a radio access
bearer assignment response sent by the radio access network,
wherein the radio access bearer assignment response is used to
confirm that the uplink direct tunnel between the radio access
network and the gateway has been successfully established.
13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the character of
the user terminal comprises at least one of a signaling character
of the user terminal and a service attribute of the user terminal;
wherein the signaling character of the user terminal comprises at
least one of a frequency of switch between a connected state and an
idle state of the user terminal and a type of the user terminal;
and wherein the service attribute of the user terminal comprises at
least one of a duration of a service corresponding to a PDP context
of the user terminal or a bearer context of the user terminal, a
type of the service, a duration of downlink data packets
corresponding to the PDP context of the user terminal or the bearer
context of the user terminal, a quantity of the downlink data
packets, traffic of the downlink data packets, and a time interval
between the downlink data packets.
14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the preset
condition for establishing a direct tunnel is configured on a
mobility management network element.
15. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the preset
condition for establishing a direct tunnel is configured on an
operation and maintenance network element or a parameter delivery
network element and is delivered to a mobility management network
element.
16. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the determining
unit comprises: a first counting module, configured to count a
frequency of switch between a connected state and a idle state of
the user terminal; and a first determining module, configured to
determine that the frequency falls in a preset frequency range.
17. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the determining
unit is configured to determine that a type of the user terminal
falls in a preset type range.
18. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the determining
unit comprises a second counting module and a second determining
module; wherein the second counting module is configured to count a
duration of a received service corresponding to a PDP context of
the user terminal or a bearer context of the user terminal, and the
second determining module is configured to determine that the
duration falls in a preset duration range; or wherein the second
counting module is configured to count a quantity of downlink data
packets corresponding to the PDP context of the user terminal or
the bearer context of the user terminal, and the second determining
module is configured to determine that the quantity falls in a
preset quantity range; or the second counting module is configured
to count traffic of the downlink data packets corresponding to the
PDP context of the user terminal or the bearer context of the user
terminal, and the second determining module is configured to
determine that the traffic falls in a preset traffic range; or the
second counting module is configured to count a time interval
between the downlink data packets corresponding to the PDP context
of the user terminal or the bearer context of the user terminal,
and the second determining module is configured to determine that
the time interval falls in a preset time interval range.
19. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the determining
unit is configured to determine that a type of a service
corresponding to a PDP context of the user terminal or a bearer
context of the user terminal falls in a preset service type.
20. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the gateway is a
data gateway or a serving gateway.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of International
Application No. PCT/CN2012/073171, filed on Mar. 28, 2012, which is
hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of communications
technologies and, in particular embodiments, to a method and an
apparatus for establishing a direct tunnel.
BACKGROUND
[0003] GTP (General Packet Radio Service Tunneling Protocol) is a
communications protocol that is widely applied between network
elements of a GPRS network, for example, applied between an SGSN
(Serving GPRS Support Node) and a GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node),
and GTP will continue to be used in an EPS (Evolved Packet System).
GTP is used to forward a signaling message and a service data
packet. A network element using the GTP protocol identifies a GTP
tunnel by using an IP address, a UDP (User Datagram protocol) port
number, and a TEID (Tunnel Endpoint Identifier).
[0004] A direct tunnel is one of user plane tunnel modes in a GPRS
network and may also be used in an EPS network. An RNC (Radio
Network Controller) and a GGSN or an SGW (Serving Gateway) directly
establish a user plane tunnel by using the SGW in the EPS network,
and uplink and downlink user plane data packets are directly
forwarded between the RNC and the GGSN (or the SGW), without the
need to pass through an SGSN. When a user terminal is idle, in a
direct tunnel mode, the SGSN updates a user plane tunnel on the
GGSN (or the SGW) by using a signaling message and establishes a
user plane tunnel between the SGSN and the GGSN (or the SGW). When
downlink data packets of a user terminal in an idle state are
forwarded to the SGSN through a corresponding user plane tunnel,
the SGSN initiates a paging process to trigger the user terminal to
initiate a service request process, so as to establish a signaling
connection and a radio bearer between the user terminal and the
network and change the user terminal into a connected state. In the
service request process, if the SGSN decides to establish a direct
tunnel, the SGSN separately exchanges a signaling message with the
RNC and the GGSN (or the SGW) to exchange tunnel endpoint
identifiers of the RNC and the GGSN (or the SGW), and establishes a
direct tunnel between the RNC and the GGSN (or the SGW). In
addition, the service request process may also be actively
initiated by the user terminal. A mechanism of the direct tunnel
can reduce the number of path hops for forwarding a user plane data
packet, thereby reducing a service delay.
[0005] However, due to features of some services or terminals, to
establish a direct tunnel or to cancel a direct tunnel, the SGSN
frequently sends a signaling message to the GGSN or the SGW, which
leads to an increase in the number of signaling messages that need
to be processed on the GGSN or the SGW and increases signaling load
on the GGSN or the SGW.
SUMMARY
[0006] Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and an
apparatus for establishing a direct tunnel, which can reduce the
number of signaling messages that need to be processed on a GGSN or
an SGW and reduce signaling load on the GGSN or the SGW.
[0007] A method for establishing a direct tunnel is disclosed. A
mobility management network element determines that a character of
a user terminal satisfies a preset condition for establishing a
direct tunnel. A request message is sent to a gateway to establish
a downlink direct tunnel between a radio access network and the
gateway. A response message sent by the gateway confirms that the
downlink direct tunnel between the radio access network and the
gateway has been successfully established.
[0008] An apparatus for establishing a direct tunnel is also
disclosed. A determining unit is configured to determine that a
character of a user terminal satisfies a preset condition for
establishing a direct tunnel. A sending unit is configured to send
a request message to a gateway to establish a downlink direct
tunnel between a radio access network and the gateway. A receiving
unit is configured to receive a response message sent by the
gateway to confirm that the downlink direct tunnel between the
radio access network and the gateway has been successfully
established.
[0009] In a method and an apparatus for establishing a direct
tunnel provided by the embodiments of the present invention, it is
determined that a character of a user terminal satisfies a preset
condition for establishing a direct tunnel. A request message is
sent to a gateway to establish a downlink direct tunnel between a
radio access network and the gateway. A response message sent by
the gateway is received. The response message is used to confirm
that the downlink direct tunnel between the radio access network
and the gateway has been successfully established. In the prior
art, when a direct tunnel is established, a signaling message is
frequently sent to a GGSN or an SGW, which leads to an increase in
the number of signaling messages that need to be processed on the
GGSN or the SGW and increases signaling load on the GGSN or the
SGW. The solutions provided in the embodiments of the present
invention can reduce the number of signaling messages that need to
be processed on the GGSN or the SGW, reduce the signaling load on
the GGSN or the SGW, and meanwhile ensuring delay requirements of
some services.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] To describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of
the present invention more clearly, the following briefly
introduces the accompanying drawings required for describing the
embodiments or the prior art. Apparently, the accompanying drawings
in the following description show merely some embodiments of the
present invention, and a person of ordinary skill in the art may
still derive other drawings from these accompanying drawings
without creative efforts.
[0011] FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method for establishing a direct
tunnel according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an apparatus for establishing a
direct tunnel according to Embodiment 1 of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method for establishing a direct
tunnel in a GPRS network according to Embodiment 2 of the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for establishing a direct
tunnel in an EPS network according to Embodiment 2 of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of another method for establishing a
direct tunnel in a GPRS network according to Embodiment 2 of the
present invention;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of another method for establishing a
direct tunnel in an EPS network according to Embodiment 2 of the
present invention; and
[0017] FIG. 7 is a simplified block diagram of an apparatus for
establishing a direct tunnel according to Embodiment 2 of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0018] The following clearly describes the technical solutions in
the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the
accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention.
Apparently, the described embodiments are merely a part rather than
all of the embodiments of the present invention. All other
embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art based
on the embodiments of the present invention without creative
efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present
invention.
Embodiment 1
[0019] An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for
establishing a direct tunnel. As shown in FIG. 1, the method
includes the following steps.
[0020] Step 101: A mobility management network element determines
that a character of a user terminal satisfies a preset condition
for establishing a direct tunnel.
[0021] The character of the user terminal includes at least one of
a signaling character of the user terminal and a service attribute
of the user terminal, where the signaling character of the user
terminal includes at least one of a frequency of switch between a
connected state and an idle state of the user terminal and a type
of the user terminal, and the service attribute of the user
terminal includes at least one of a duration of a service
corresponding to a PDP context of the user terminal or a bearer
context of the user terminal, a type of the service, a duration of
downlink data packets corresponding to the PDP context of the user
terminal or the bearer context of the user terminal, a quantity of
the downlink data packets, traffic of the downlink data packets,
and a time interval between the downlink data packets.
[0022] Optionally, the frequency of switch between the connected
state and the idle state of the user terminal is counted, and the
mobility management network element determines that the frequency
falls in a preset frequency range; or
[0023] the mobility management network element determines that the
type of the user terminal falls in a preset type range; or
[0024] the mobility management network element counts a duration of
a received service corresponding to the PDP context of the user
terminal or the bearer context of the user terminal, where the
duration falls in a preset duration range; or
[0025] the mobility management network element counts the quantity
of the downlink data packets corresponding to the PDP context of
the user terminal or the bearer context of the user terminal, where
the quantity falls in a preset quantity range; or
[0026] the mobility management network element counts the traffic
of the downlink data packets corresponding to the PDP context of
the user terminal or the bearer context of the user terminal, where
the traffic falls in a preset traffic range; or
[0027] the mobility management network element counts the time
interval between the downlink data packets corresponding to the PDP
context of the user terminal or the bearer context of the user
terminal, where the time interval falls in a preset time interval
range; or
[0028] the mobility management network element determines that the
type of the service corresponding to the PDP context of the user
terminal or the bearer context of the user terminal is a preset
service type.
[0029] Step 102: Send a request message to a gateway, where the
request message is used to establish a downlink direct tunnel
between a radio access network and the gateway.
[0030] Optionally, the preset condition for establishing a direct
tunnel is configured on the mobility management network element; or
the preset condition for establishing a direct tunnel is configured
on an operation and maintenance network element or a parameter
delivery network element and is delivered to the mobility
management network element. The parameter delivery network element
may be a network element such as a policy and charging rules
function network element or a data gateway.
[0031] The gateway may be a data gateway and may also be a serving
gateway.
[0032] Step 103: Receive a response message sent by the gateway,
where the response message is used to confirm that the downlink
direct tunnel between the radio access network and the gateway has
been successfully established.
[0033] The gateway establishes the direct tunnel according to the
user plane IP address of an RNC and the downlink user plane tunnel
endpoint identifier allocated by the RNC that are carried in the
received request message, and then sends the response message to
the mobility management network element, so that a downlink service
data packet corresponding to the PDP context of the user terminal
or the bearer context of the user terminal can be sent to the radio
access network through the established direct tunnel by using a
data gateway or a serving gateway.
[0034] In a method for establishing a direct tunnel provided by
this embodiment of the present invention, it is determined that a
character of a user terminal satisfies a preset condition for
establishing a direct tunnel; a request message is sent to a
gateway to establish a downlink direct tunnel between a radio
access network and the gateway; and a response message sent by the
gateway is received, where the response message is used to confirm
that the downlink direct tunnel between the radio access network
and the gateway has been successfully established. In this
embodiment of the present invention, according to the character of
the user terminal, a downlink direct tunnel established for the
user terminal that frequently switches between a connected state
and an idle state is reduced. Therefore, this can reduce the number
of signaling messages that need to be processed on a GGSN or an
SGW, reduce signaling load on the GGSN or the SGW, and meanwhile
ensure delay requirements of some services.
[0035] This embodiment of the present invention provides an
apparatus for establishing a direct tunnel, where the apparatus may
be a mobility management network element. As shown in FIG. 2, the
apparatus includes a determining unit 201, a sending unit 202, and
a receiving unit 203.
[0036] The determining unit 201 is configured to determine that a
character of a user terminal satisfies a preset condition for
establishing a direct tunnel.
[0037] The character of the user terminal includes at least one of
a signaling character of the user terminal and a service attribute
of the user terminal, where the signaling character of the user
terminal includes at least one of a frequency of switch between a
connected state and an idle state of the user terminal and a type
of the user terminal, and the service attribute of the user
terminal includes at least one of a duration of a service
corresponding to a PDP context of the user terminal or a bearer
context of the user terminal, a type of the service, a duration of
downlink data packets corresponding to the PDP context of the user
terminal or the bearer context of the user terminal, a quantity of
the downlink data packets, traffic of the downlink data packets,
and a time interval between the downlink data packets.
[0038] Further, a first counting module in the determining unit is
configured to count the frequency of switch between the connected
state and the idle state of the user terminal; and a first
determining module is configured to determine that the frequency
falls in a preset frequency range.
[0039] Further, the determining unit is specifically configured to
determine that the type of the user terminal falls in a preset type
range.
[0040] Further, a second counting module in the determining unit is
configured to count a duration of a received service corresponding
to the PDP context of the user terminal or the bearer context of
the user terminal, and a second determining module is configured to
determine that the duration falls in a preset duration range;
or
[0041] the second counting module is configured to count the
quantity of the downlink data packets corresponding to the PDP
context of the user terminal or the bearer context of the user
terminal, and the second determining module is configured to
determine that the quantity falls in a preset quantity range;
or
[0042] the second counting module is configured to count the
traffic of the downlink data packets corresponding to the PDP
context of the user terminal or the bearer context of the user
terminal, and the second determining module is configured to
determine that the traffic falls in a preset traffic range; or
[0043] the second counting module is configured to count the time
interval between the downlink data packets corresponding to the PDP
context of the user terminal or the bearer context of the user
terminal, and the second determining module is configured to
determine that the time interval falls in a preset time interval
range.
[0044] Further, the determining unit is specifically configured to
determine that the type of the service corresponding to the PDP
context of the user terminal or the bearer context of the user
terminal is a preset service type.
[0045] It should be noted that functions of the determining unit
may be completed by the first counting module and the first
determining module and may also be completed by the second counting
module and the second determining module.
[0046] The sending unit 202 is configured to send a request message
to a gateway, where the request message is used to establish a
downlink direct tunnel between a radio access network and the
gateway.
[0047] Optionally, the preset condition for establishing a direct
tunnel is configured on the mobility management network element; or
the preset condition for establishing a direct tunnel is configured
on an operation and maintenance network element or a parameter
delivery network element and is delivered to the mobility
management network element.
[0048] The receiving unit 203 is configured to receive a response
message sent by the gateway, where the response message is used to
confirm that the downlink direct tunnel between the radio access
network and the gateway has been successfully established.
[0049] In an apparatus for establishing a direct tunnel provided by
this embodiment of the present invention, a determining unit
determines that a character of a user terminal satisfies a preset
condition for establishing a direct tunnel; a sending unit sends a
request message to a gateway, where the request message is used to
establish a downlink direct tunnel between a radio access network
and the gateway; and a receiving unit receives a response message
sent by the gateway, where the response message is used to confirm
that the downlink direct tunnel between the radio access network
and the gateway has been successfully established. In this
embodiment of the present invention, according to the character of
the user terminal, a downlink direct tunnel established for the
user terminal that frequently switches between a connected state
and an idle state is reduced. Therefore, this can reduce the number
of signaling messages that need to be processed on a GGSN or an
SGW, reduce signaling load on the GGSN or the SGW, and meanwhile
ensure delay requirements of some services.
Embodiment 2
[0050] An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for
establishing a direct tunnel, and an application scenario of the
method is as follows: In a GPRS network or an EPS network, a direct
tunnel is established when a mobility management network element
initiates a paging process for a user terminal in an idle state so
as to trigger the user terminal to initiate a service request
process, or when the user terminal actively initiates the service
request process.
[0051] In the GPRS network, a radio access network is an RNS (Radio
Network Subsystem) using 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project)
access of a UTRAN (Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network), the
mobility management network element is an SGSN, and a data gateway
is a GGSN.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 3, the method includes the following
steps.
[0053] Step 301: A mobility management network element receives a
downlink user plane data packet sent by a data gateway and obtains
a state of a user terminal corresponding to the user plane data
packet.
[0054] The mobility management network element obtains the state of
the user terminal by using a user context corresponding to the
received downlink user plane data packet; if the user context does
not include user plane information of a downlink, it indicates that
the user terminal is in an idle state; and if the user context
includes user plane information of a downlink, it indicates that
the user terminal is in a connected state. The user plane
information of the downlink is a user plane IP address and a tunnel
endpoint identifier of a PDP context allocated by an RNC.
[0055] Step 302: When the user terminal is in the idle state, the
mobility management network element initiates a paging process for
the user terminal and sends a paging message to the user
terminal.
[0056] It should be noted that when the user terminal needs to send
a user plane data packet, the user terminal may also actively
initiate a service request process; in this case, step 301 and step
302 are not performed, that is, the paging process is not
initiated, and establishing a connection with a radio access
network and its subsequent operations are performed directly.
[0057] Step 303: After detecting the paging message, the user
terminal establishes a connection with the radio access
network.
[0058] After the user terminal detects the paging message, the user
terminal restores a signaling connection with the network by using
a radio resource connection establishment process.
[0059] Step 304: The user terminal sends a service request message
to the mobility management network element.
[0060] After establishing the connection with the radio access
network, the user terminal sends the service request message to the
mobility management network element, where the service request
message carries a user identifier of the user terminal, so that the
mobility management network element establishes a bearer of the
user terminal.
[0061] Optionally, the mobility management network element may
perform a security function, complete authentication on the user
terminal, and obtain a security vector on an HLR (Home Location
Register), so as to encrypt a signaling message on a control plane.
The HLR is responsible for managing and maintaining home user
subscription information.
[0062] Step 305: The mobility management network element sends a
radio access bearer assignment request to the radio access network
to establish an uplink direct tunnel between the radio access
network and the data gateway, where the radio access bearer
assignment request includes a user plane IP address of the data
gateway and an uplink user plane tunnel endpoint identifier of the
PDP context allocated by the data gateway.
[0063] It should be noted that when the mobility management network
element decides to establish a direct tunnel for a PDP context
corresponding to downlink data packets, the radio access bearer
assignment request sent to the radio access network carries the
user plane IP address of the data gateway and the uplink user plane
tunnel endpoint identifier of the PDP context allocated by the data
gateway. In this way, uplink data packets corresponding to the PDP
context of the user terminal are sent to the data gateway through
the direct tunnel over the radio access network. Downlink data
packets are sent to the mobility management network element through
an indirect tunnel by using the data gateway and then are forwarded
to the radio access network.
[0064] The indirect tunnel may also be referred to as a two-section
tunnel mode; for example, in the GPRS network, a tunnel
corresponding to a same PDP context has two sections, a user plane
tunnel is established between the GGSN and the SGSN, and a user
plane tunnel is established between the SGSN and the RNC. The
direct tunnel may also be referred to as a one-section tunnel mode;
for example, in the GPRS network, a tunnel corresponding to a same
PDP context has one section, and a user plane tunnel is directly
established by the RNC and the GGSN. A direct tunnel mode can
improve the forwarding efficiency of a user plane data packet,
reduce a service delay, and improve service experience of the user
terminal. In the prior art, if the mobility management network
element decides to establish a direct tunnel for the PDP context of
the user terminal, both an uplink and a downlink use the direct
tunnel.
[0065] The uplink user plane tunnel endpoint identifier of the PDP
context is allocated by the data gateway to the radio access
network; optionally, when the user terminal changes from the
connected state into the idle state, the mobility management
network element stores an uplink user plane tunnel endpoint
identifier of a PDP context that is previously sent by the data
gateway by using a signaling message of a PDP activation process or
an operation such as a PDP context update.
[0066] Step 306: The radio access network returns a radio access
bearer assignment response message to the mobility management
network element, where the radio access bearer assignment response
is used to confirm that the uplink direct tunnel between the radio
access network and the gateway has been successfully
established.
[0067] After receiving the radio access bearer assignment request
sent by the mobility management network element, the radio access
network sends a radio bearer establishment request to the user
terminal, and the user terminal returns a radio bearer
establishment complete message to the radio access network; after
receiving the radio bearer establishment complete message, the
radio access network sends the radio access bearer assignment
response message to the mobility management network element.
[0068] It should be noted that the radio access bearer assignment
response message includes a user plane IP address of a radio
network controller RNC and a downlink user plane tunnel endpoint
identifier allocated by the RNC; the user plane IP address of the
RNC and the downlink user plane tunnel endpoint identifier
allocated by the RNC are carried in the radio access bearer
assignment response message, so as to establish a downlink direct
tunnel between the radio access network and the data gateway.
[0069] The RNS is a radio network subsystem and is responsible for
controlling resources of all the cells. Each RNS includes one RNC
(Radio Network Controller) and one or more Node Bs. The RNC is a
control part of the RNS, is responsible for managing various
interfaces, and undertakes management of radio resources and radio
parameters. Main functions of the RNC include a system information
broadcast and access control function, mobility management
functions such as handover and RNC migration, and resource
management functions such as macro diversity combining, power
control, and radio bearer allocation. The Node B is controlled by
the RNC, serves a radio transceiver device of a certain cell,
completes switching between the RNC and a radio channel, and
implements radio transmission and a related control function
through an air interface between the Node B and a mobile
station.
[0070] Step 307: The mobility management network element determines
whether a character of the user terminal satisfies a preset
condition for establishing a direct tunnel.
[0071] When the mobility management network element determines that
the character of the user terminal does not satisfy the preset
condition for establishing a direct tunnel, the downlink direct
tunnel between the radio access network and the data gateway is not
established for the user terminal, so as to reduce the number of
signaling messages that need to be processed, and reduce signaling
load of the data gateway; when the mobility management network
element determines that the character of the user terminal
satisfies the preset condition for establishing a direct tunnel,
step 308 is performed.
[0072] Step 308: When determining that the character of the user
terminal satisfies the preset condition for establishing a direct
tunnel, the mobility management network element sends a Packet Data
Protocol PDP context update request message to the data gateway,
where the PDP context update request message includes the user
plane IP address of the RNC and the downlink user plane tunnel
endpoint identifier allocated by the RNC, and the PDP context
update request message is used to establish the downlink direct
tunnel between the radio access network and the data gateway.
[0073] Optionally, the preset condition for establishing a direct
tunnel is configured on the mobility management network element; or
the preset condition for establishing a direct tunnel is configured
on an operation and maintenance network element or a parameter
delivery network element and is delivered to the mobility
management network element. The parameter delivery network element
may be a network element such as a policy and charging rules
network element and a data gateway.
[0074] Optionally, the mobility management network element decides,
according to the character of the user terminal, to establish the
downlink direct tunnel for the PDP context of the user terminal.
The character of the user terminal includes at least one of a
signaling character of the user terminal and a service attribute of
the user terminal, where the signaling character of the user
terminal includes at least one of a frequency of switch between the
connected state and the idle state of the user terminal and a type
of the user terminal, and the service attribute of the user
terminal includes at least one of a duration of a service of the
PDP context of the user terminal, a type of the service, a duration
of downlink data packets corresponding to the PDP context of the
user terminal, a quantity of the downlink data packets, traffic of
the downlink data packets, and a time interval between the downlink
data packets.
[0075] For example, when the preset condition for establishing a
direct tunnel is a preset state switching frequency threshold
range, the mobility management network element counts the frequency
of switch between the connected state and the idle state of the
user terminal, and when the counted state switching frequency is
determined to fall in the preset state switching frequency
threshold range, sends the Packet Data Protocol PDP context update
request message to the gateway, and establishes the downlink direct
tunnel between the radio access network and the gateway.
[0076] Optionally, the mobility management network element may
count the frequency of switch between the connected state and the
idle state of the user terminal by counting an occurrence frequency
of an Iu interface release process and the service request process.
An Iu interface is a connection interface between the RNC and the
SGSN. When the Iu interface release process is performed, the user
terminal changes into the idle state; when the service request
process is performed, the user terminal changes into the connected
state. When the frequency satisfies the preset frequency threshold
range, for example, the user terminal performs state switching for
less than 2 times within 5 minutes, and the user terminal performs
the state switching for not more than 5 times within 3 hours, the
mobility management network element establishes the downlink direct
tunnel between the radio access network and the data gateway.
[0077] For example, when the preset condition for establishing a
direct tunnel is a preset type of the user terminal, the mobility
management network element determines that the type of the user
terminal falls in the preset type range, sends a PDP context update
request message to the gateway, and establishes the downlink direct
tunnel between the radio access network and the gateway.
[0078] Optionally, the mobility management network element may
obtain the type of the user terminal by using information included
in a received signaling message that is sent by another network
element. For example, the type of the user terminal is obtained by
using information such as an international mobile equipment
identity (International Mobile Equipment Identity, IMEI) or a user
terminal type indication that are included in a received signaling
message sent by a network element such as a radio access network, a
data gateway, or a serving gateway. For example, when the preset
type of the user terminal is a feature phone, the mobility
management network element establishes the downlink direct tunnel
between the radio access network and the data gateway if the type
of the user terminal is the feature phone; the mobility management
network element does not establish the direct tunnel of the
downlink between the radio access network and the data gateway or
the serving gateway if the type of the user terminal is a
smartphone. The smartphone has features such as fast dormancy,
platform and service heartbeats, and a push mechanism, and all
these features cause the smartphone to frequently switch between
the connected state and the idle state. That the mobility
management network element does not establish the downlink direct
tunnel between the radio access network and the data gateway or the
serving gateway can reduce signaling messages that need to be
processed on the data gateway or the serving gateway.
[0079] For example, when the preset condition for establishing a
direct tunnel is a preset duration threshold of a service, the
mobility management network element counts a duration of a received
service corresponding to the PDP context of the user terminal,
where the duration falls in the preset duration range. For example,
when the duration of the service is greater than 3 s, or the
duration of the service is greater than 2 s, the mobility
management network element establishes the downlink direct tunnel
between the radio access network and the data gateway. When the
service continues, the user terminal remains in the connected state
all the time. Longer duration of the service leads to easier
establishment of the direct tunnel; and the establishing the direct
tunnel can reduce the number of forwarding path hops for related
user plane forwarding when the service continues and reduce a
forwarding delay.
[0080] For example, when the preset condition for establishing a
direct tunnel is a preset service type, the mobility management
network element determines that the type of the service
corresponding to the PDP context of the user terminal is the preset
service type, sends the PDP context update request message to the
data gateway, and establishes the downlink direct tunnel between
the radio access network and the data gateway.
[0081] Optionally, the mobility management network element may
obtain a service type corresponding to downlink data packets by
means of deep packet parsing, may also obtain the service type of
the downlink data packets by using a differentiated services code
point or a flow label of an IP header of the downlink data packets
or by using an extension header of a GTP header, and may also
obtain the service type of the downlink data packets by using a
signaling message sent by the data gateway or the serving gateway.
For example, when the preset service type is a voice service or a
video service, if the service type of the downlink data packets is
the voice service or the service type of the downlink data packets
is the video service, the mobility management network element
establishes the downlink direct tunnel between the radio access
network and the data gateway. If the service type of the downlink
data packets is an instant messaging service, the mobility
management network element does not establish the downlink direct
tunnel between the radio access network and the data gateway.
Different services may have different requirements for delay, some
services are more sensitive to delay, whereas some services can
tolerate longer delay. Establishing a direct tunnel for a service
having a high delay requirement can exert an advantage of the
direct tunnel and reduce the service delay.
[0082] For example, when the preset condition for establishing a
direct tunnel is a preset duration threshold of downlink data
packets, the mobility management network element counts a duration
of downlink data packets corresponding to a current PDP context;
for example, when the duration of the downlink data packets is
greater than 1 s, or the duration of the downlink data packets is
not less than 700 ms, the mobility management network element
establishes the downlink direct tunnel between the radio access
network and the data gateway. Longer duration of the downlink data
packets leads to easier establishment of the direct tunnel; and the
establishing the direct tunnel can reduce the number of forwarding
path hops for user plane forwarding of the downlink data packets
corresponding to the PDP context and reduce the forwarding
delay.
[0083] For example, when the preset condition for establishing a
direct tunnel is a preset a quantity of downlink data packets, the
mobility management network element counts a quantity of downlink
data packets corresponding to the PDP context of the user terminal,
where the quantity falls in the preset quantity range; for example,
when the quantity of the downlink data packets is not less than 10,
the mobility management network element establishes the downlink
direct tunnel between the radio access network and the data
gateway. Longer the duration of the downlink data packets leads to
easier establishment of the direct tunnel; and the establishing the
direct tunnel can reduce the number of forwarding path hops for
subsequent user plane forwarding of the downlink data packets and
reduce the forwarding delay.
[0084] For example, when the preset condition for establishing a
direct tunnel is preset traffic of downlink data packets, the
mobility management network element counts traffic of downlink data
packets corresponding to the PDP context of the user terminal,
where the traffic falls in a preset traffic range; for example,
when the traffic of the downlink data packets is greater than 1 M,
or the traffic of the downlink data packets is not less than 300 K,
the mobility management network element establishes the downlink
direct tunnel between the radio access network and the data
gateway. Larger traffic of the downlink data packets leads to
easier establishment of the direct tunnel; and the establishing the
direct tunnel can reduce the number of forwarding path hops for
user plane forwarding of the downlink data packets corresponding to
the PDP context and reduce the forwarding delay.
[0085] For example, when the preset condition for establishing a
direct tunnel is a preset time interval between downlink data
packets, the mobility management network element counts a time
interval between downlink data packets corresponding to a PDP
context, where the time interval falls in the preset time interval
range; for example, when the time interval between the data packets
is not greater than 2 s, or the time interval between the data
packets is less than 3 s, the mobility management network element
establishes the downlink direct tunnel between the radio access
network and the data gateway. Longer time interval between the
downlink data packets leads to a higher possibility of a switchover
of the mobility management network element between the connected
state and the idle state, and leads to inappropriate establishment
of the direct tunnel.
[0086] It should be noted that a condition, for sending a request
message to the data gateway, described in step 308 of the present
invention may send a request message to the data gateway when one,
a combination of any two, or any combination of more than two
features of the user terminal satisfies the preset condition for
establishing a direct tunnel; optionally, the preset condition for
establishing a direct tunnel is set according to a specific
application scenario.
[0087] Step 309: The data gateway returns a PDP context update
response message to the mobility management network element, where
the PDP context update response message is used to confirm that the
direct tunnel has been successfully established according to the
user plane IP address of the RNC and the downlink user plane tunnel
endpoint identifier allocated by the RNC.
[0088] The data gateway establishes the direct tunnel between the
gateway and the radio access network according to the user plane IP
address of the RNC and the downlink user plane tunnel endpoint
identifier allocated by the RNC, and a downlink service data packet
corresponding to the PDP context of the user terminal is sent to
the radio access network through the direct tunnel by using the
data gateway.
[0089] Step 310: The mobility management network element receives
the PDP context update response message sent by the data
gateway.
[0090] In a method for establishing a direct tunnel provided by
this embodiment of the present invention, it is determined that a
character of a user terminal satisfies a preset condition for
establishing a direct tunnel; a request message is sent to a data
gateway, where the request message is used to establish a downlink
direct tunnel between a radio access network and the gateway; and a
response message sent by the data gateway is received, where the
response message is used to confirm that the downlink direct tunnel
between the radio access network and the data gateway has been
successfully established. In this embodiment of the present
invention, according to the character of the user terminal, a
downlink direct tunnel established for the user terminal that
frequently switches between a connected state and an idle state is
reduced. Therefore, this can reduce the number of signaling
messages that need to be processed on a GGSN or an SGW, reduce
signaling load on the GGSN or the SGW, and meanwhile ensure delay
requirements of some services.
[0091] An embodiment of the present invention provides another
method for establishing a direct tunnel, and an application
scenario of the method is as follows: In an EPS network, a direct
tunnel is established when a mobility management network element
initiates a service request process for a user terminal in an idle
state, or when the user terminal actively initiates the service
request process. In the EPS network, an access network is an RNS
using 3GPP access of a UTRAN, the mobility management network
element may be an SGSN, a serving gateway may be an SGW, and a data
gateway may be a PGW (Packet Data Network Gateway).
[0092] As shown in FIG. 4, the method includes the following
steps.
[0093] Step 401: A mobility management network element receives a
downlink user plane data packet sent by a serving gateway and
obtains a state of a user terminal corresponding to the user plane
data packet.
[0094] The mobility management network element obtains the state of
the user terminal by using a user context corresponding to the
received downlink user plane data packet; if the user context does
not include user plane information of a downlink, it indicates that
the user terminal is in an idle state; and if the user context
includes user plane information of a downlink, it indicates that
the user terminal is in a connected state. The user plane
information of the downlink is a user plane IP address and a tunnel
endpoint identifier of a PDP context/bearer context allocated by an
RNC.
[0095] Step 402: When the user terminal is in the idle state, the
mobility management network element initiates a paging process for
the user terminal and sends a paging message to the user
terminal.
[0096] It should be noted that when the user terminal needs to send
a user plane data packet, the user terminal may also actively
initiate a service request process; in this case, step 401 and step
402 are not performed, that is, the paging process is not
initiated, and establishing a connection with a radio access
network and subsequent operations are performed directly.
[0097] Step 403: After detecting the paging message, the user
terminal establishes a connection with the radio access
network.
[0098] Step 404: The user terminal sends a service request message
to the mobility management network element.
[0099] After establishing the connection with the radio access
network, the user terminal sends the service request message to the
mobility management network element, where the service request
message carries a user identifier of the user terminal, so that the
mobility management network element establishes a bearer of the
user terminal.
[0100] Optionally, the mobility management network element may
perform a security function, complete authentication on the user
terminal, and obtain a security vector on an HSS (Home Subscriber
Server), so as to encrypt a signaling message on a control plane.
The HSS is responsible for managing and maintaining home user
subscription information.
[0101] Step 405: The mobility management network element sends a
radio access bearer assignment request to the radio access network
to establish an uplink direct tunnel between the radio access
network and the serving gateway, where the radio access bearer
assignment request includes a user plane IP address of the serving
gateway and an uplink user plane tunnel endpoint identifier of a
bearer allocated by the serving gateway.
[0102] It should be noted that when the mobility management network
element decides to establish a direct tunnel for a bearer
corresponding to downlink data packets, the radio access bearer
assignment request sent to the radio access network carries the
user plane IP address of the serving gateway and the uplink user
plane tunnel endpoint identifier of the bearer allocated by the
serving gateway. In this way, uplink data packets corresponding to
the bearer context of the user terminal are sent to the serving
gateway through the direct tunnel by using the radio access
network. Downlink data packets are sent to the mobility management
network element through an indirect tunnel by using the serving
gateway and then are forwarded to the radio access network.
[0103] Step 406: The radio access network returns a radio access
bearer assignment response message to the mobility management
network element, where the radio access bearer assignment response
is used to confirm that the uplink direct tunnel between the radio
access network and the serving gateway has been successfully
established.
[0104] It should be noted that the radio access bearer assignment
response message includes a user plane IP address of a radio
network controller RNC and a downlink user plane tunnel endpoint
identifier allocated by the RNC; the user plane IP address of the
RNC and the downlink user plane tunnel endpoint identifier
allocated by the RNC are carried in the radio access bearer
assignment response message, so as to establish a downlink direct
tunnel between the radio access network and the serving
gateway.
[0105] Step 407: The mobility management network element determines
whether a character of the user terminal satisfies a preset
condition for establishing a direct tunnel.
[0106] When the mobility management network element determines that
the character of the user terminal does not satisfy the preset
condition for establishing a direct tunnel, the downlink direct
tunnel between the radio access network and the serving gateway is
not established for the user terminal, so as to reduce the number
of signaling messages that need to be processed, and reduce
signaling load of the serving gateway; when the mobility management
network element determines that the character of the user terminal
satisfies the preset condition for establishing a direct tunnel,
step 408 is performed.
[0107] Step 408: When determining that the character of the user
terminal satisfies the preset condition for establishing a direct
tunnel, the mobility management network element sends a bearer
change request message to the serving gateway, where the bearer
change request message includes the user plane IP address of the
RNC and the downlink user plane tunnel endpoint identifier
allocated by the RNC, and the bearer change request message is used
to establish the downlink direct tunnel between the radio access
network and the serving gateway.
[0108] Optionally, the preset condition for establishing a direct
tunnel is configured on the mobility management network element; or
the preset condition for establishing a direct tunnel is configured
on an operation and maintenance network element or a parameter
delivery network element and is delivered to the mobility
management network element. The parameter delivery network element
may be a network element such as a policy and charging rules
network element and a data gateway.
[0109] Optionally, the mobility management network element decides,
according to the character of the user terminal, to establish the
downlink direct tunnel for the bearer context of the user terminal.
The character of the user terminal includes at least one of a
signaling character of the user terminal and a service attribute of
the user terminal, where the signaling character of the user
terminal includes at least one of a frequency of switch between the
connected state and the idle state of the user terminal and a type
of the user terminal, and the service attribute of the user
terminal includes at least one of a duration of a service of the
bearer context of the user terminal, a type of the service, a
duration of downlink data packets corresponding to the bearer
context of the user terminal, a quantity of the downlink data
packets, traffic of the downlink data packets, and a time interval
between the downlink data packets.
[0110] An operation of determining whether the character of the
user terminal satisfies the preset condition for establishing a
direct tunnel is the same as the operation process of step 308 in
the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 3, except that the PDP context
in the GPRS network is the bearer context in the EPS network.
Therefore, details are not repeated in this step.
[0111] It should be noted that in step 408 of the present
invention, a request message may be sent to the serving gateway
when one, a combination of any two, or any combination of more than
two features of the user terminal satisfies the preset condition
for establishing a direct tunnel; optionally, the preset condition
for establishing a direct tunnel is set according to a specific
application scenario.
[0112] Step 409: The serving gateway returns a bearer context
change response message to the mobility management network element,
where the bearer context change response message is used to confirm
that the direct tunnel has been successfully established according
to the user plane IP address of the RNC and the downlink user plane
tunnel endpoint identifier allocated by the RNC.
[0113] The serving gateway establishes the direct tunnel between
the serving gateway and the radio access network according to the
user plane IP address of the RNC and the downlink user plane tunnel
endpoint identifier allocated by the RNC, and a downlink service
data packet corresponding to the bearer context of the user
terminal is sent to the radio access network through the direct
tunnel by using the serving gateway.
[0114] Step 410: The mobility management network element receives
the bearer context change response message sent by the serving
gateway.
[0115] In a method for establishing a direct tunnel provided this
embodiment of the present invention, it is determined that a
character of a user terminal satisfies a preset condition for
establishing a direct tunnel; a request message is sent to a
serving gateway, where the request message is used to establish a
downlink direct tunnel between a radio access network and the
gateway; and a response message sent by the serving gateway is
received, where the response message is used to confirm that the
downlink direct tunnel between the radio access network and the
serving gateway has been successfully established. In this
embodiment of the present invention, according to the character of
the user terminal, a downlink direct tunnel established for the
user terminal that frequently switches between a connected state
and an idle state is reduced. Therefore, this can reduce the number
of signaling messages that need to be processed on a GGSN or an
SGW, reduce signaling load on the GGSN or the SGW, and meanwhile
ensure delay requirements of some services.
[0116] An embodiment of the present invention provides another
method for establishing a direct tunnel, and an application
scenario of the method is as follows: In a GPRS network or an EPS
network, a direct tunnel is established when a user terminal
initiates a PDP activation process. In the GPRS network, an access
network is an RNS using 3GPP access of a UTRAN, a mobility
management network element is an SGSN, and a data gateway is a
GGSN. In addition, a solution provided in this embodiment of the
present invention can be applied to a PDP context activation
procedure initiated by the user terminal and can also be applied to
a secondary PDP context activation procedure initiated by the user
terminal. The present invention gives detailed description by using
the PDP context activation procedure initiated by the user terminal
as an example.
[0117] As shown in FIG. 5, the method includes the following
steps.
[0118] Step 501: A user terminal initiates a PDP context activation
procedure and sends a PDP context activation request message to a
mobility management network element.
[0119] The PDP context activation request message includes a PDP
activation type, a PDP address, an APN (Access Point Name), a
required QoS (Quality of Service), a PDP configuration option, and
the like.
[0120] Step 502: The mobility management network element receives
the PDP context activation request message sent by the user
terminal and sends a PDP context establishment request to a data
gateway.
[0121] Step 503: The data gateway receives the PDP context
establishment request sent by the mobility management network
element and returns a PDP context establishment response to the
mobility management network element.
[0122] If the data gateway can satisfy a QoS, the PDP context
establishment response is returned to the mobility management
network element; if the data gateway cannot satisfy the QoS, a PDP
context establishment rejection is returned to the mobility
management network element.
[0123] The PDP context establishment response includes a user plane
IP address of the data gateway and an uplink user plane tunnel
endpoint identifier allocated by the data gateway, which are used
to establish an uplink direct tunnel.
[0124] Step 504: The mobility management network element sends a
radio access bearer assignment request to the radio access network,
where the radio access bearer assignment request includes the user
plane IP address of the data gateway and the uplink user plane
tunnel endpoint identifier allocated by the data gateway.
[0125] Step 505: The radio access network returns a radio access
bearer assignment response message to the mobility management
network element, where the radio access bearer assignment response
message includes a user plane IP address of a radio network
controller RNC and a downlink user plane tunnel endpoint identifier
allocated by the RNC.
[0126] Step 504 and step 505 are a process of obtaining the user
plane IP address of the RNC and the downlink user plane tunnel
endpoint identifier allocated by the RNC, which is the same as a
process of performing step 305 and step 306 in the foregoing
embodiment. For details, reference may be made to step 305 and step
306 in the foregoing embodiment, and details are not repeated
herein.
[0127] Step 506: The mobility management network element returns a
PDP context activation response message to the user terminal.
[0128] Step 507: The mobility management network element determines
whether a character of the user terminal satisfies a preset
condition for establishing a direct tunnel.
[0129] When the mobility management network element determines that
the character of the user terminal does not satisfy the preset
condition for establishing a direct tunnel, a downlink direct
tunnel between the radio access network and the data gateway is not
established for the user, so as to reduce the number of signaling
messages that need to be processed, and reduce signaling load of
the data gateway; when the mobility management network element
determines that the character of the user terminal satisfies the
preset condition for establishing a direct tunnel, step 508 is
performed.
[0130] Step 508: When determining that the character of the user
terminal satisfies the preset condition for establishing a direct
tunnel, the mobility management network element sends a PDP context
update request message to the data gateway to establish the
downlink direct tunnel between the radio access network and the
data gateway, where the PDP context update request message includes
the user plane IP address of the RNC and the downlink user plane
tunnel endpoint identifier allocated by the RNC.
[0131] Performing of step 508 is the same as performing of step 308
in the foregoing embodiment. For details, reference may be made to
step 308.
[0132] It should be noted that a condition, for sending the request
message to the data gateway, described in step 508 of the present
invention, may be sending the request message to the data gateway
when one, a combination of any two, or any combination of more than
two features of the user terminal satisfies the preset condition
for establishing a direct tunnel; optionally, the preset condition
for establishing a direct tunnel is set according to a specific
application scenario.
[0133] Step 509: The data gateway returns a PDP context update
response message to the mobility management network element, where
the PDP context update response message is used to confirm that the
direct tunnel has been successfully established according to the
user plane IP address of the RNC and the downlink user plane tunnel
endpoint identifier allocated by the RNC.
[0134] Performing of step 509 is the same as performing of step 309
in the foregoing embodiment. For details, reference may be made to
step 309.
[0135] The data gateway establishes the downlink direct tunnel
between the gateway and the radio access network according to the
user plane IP address of the RNC and the downlink user plane tunnel
endpoint identifier allocated by the RNC, and a downlink service
data packet corresponding to the PDP context of the user terminal
is sent to the radio access network through the direct tunnel by
using the data gateway.
[0136] Step 510: The mobility management network element receives
the PDP context update response message sent by the data
gateway.
[0137] In a method for establishing a direct tunnel provided by
this embodiment of the present invention, when a character of a
user terminal satisfies a preset condition for establishing a
direct tunnel, a Packet Data Protocol PDP context update request
message is sent to a data gateway, and the data gateway establishes
a downlink direct tunnel between a radio access network and the
data gateway according to the user plane IP address of an RNC and
the downlink user plane tunnel endpoint identifier allocated by the
RNC that are included in the PDP context update request message,
and sends a PDP context update response message to a mobility
management network element. In this embodiment of the present
invention, according to the character of the user terminal, a
downlink direct tunnel established for the user terminal that
frequently switches between a connected state and an idle state is
reduced. Therefore, this can reduce the number of signaling
messages that need to be processed on a GGSN or an SGW, and reduce
signaling load on the GGSN or the SGW.
[0138] An embodiment of the present invention provides another
method for establishing a direct tunnel, and an application
scenario of the method is as follows: In a GPRS network or an EPS
network, a direct tunnel is established when a user terminal
initiates a PDP activation procedure. In the EPS network, an access
network is a RNS using 3GPP access of an UTRAN, a mobility
management network element may be a SGSN, a serving gateway may be
a SGW, and a data gateway may be a PGW. In addition, a solution
provided in this embodiment of the present invention can be applied
to a PDP context activation procedure initiated by the user
terminal and can also be applied to a secondary PDP context
activation procedure initiated by the user terminal. The present
invention gives detailed description by using the first PDP context
activation procedure initiated by the user terminal as an
example.
[0139] As shown in FIG. 6, the method includes the following
steps.
[0140] Step 601: A user terminal initiates a PDP context activation
procedure and sends a PDP context activation request message to a
mobility management network element.
[0141] Step 602: The mobility management network element sends a
session establishment request to a serving gateway.
[0142] Step 603: The serving gateway receives the session
establishment request sent by the mobility management network
element, forwards the session establishment request to a data
gateway, and after receiving a response from the data gateway,
returns a session establishment response to the mobility management
network element.
[0143] The session establishment response includes a user plane IP
address of the serving gateway and an uplink user plane tunnel
endpoint identifier allocated by the serving gateway, which are
used to establish an uplink direct tunnel.
[0144] Step 604: The mobility management network element sends a
radio access bearer assignment request to the radio access network,
where the radio access bearer assignment request includes the user
plane IP address of the serving gateway and the uplink user plane
tunnel endpoint identifier allocated by the serving gateway.
[0145] Step 605: The radio access network returns a radio access
bearer assignment response message to the mobility management
network element, where the radio access bearer assignment response
message includes a user plane IP address of a radio network
controller RNC and a downlink user plane tunnel endpoint identifier
allocated by the RNC.
[0146] Step 604 and step 605 are a process of obtaining the user
plane IP address of the RNC and the downlink user plane tunnel
endpoint identifier allocated by the RNC, which is the same as a
process of performing step 305 and step 306 in the foregoing
embodiment. For details, reference may be made to step 305 and step
306 in the foregoing embodiment, and details are not repeated
herein.
[0147] Step 606: The mobility management network element returns a
PDP context activation response message to the user terminal.
[0148] Step 607: The mobility management network element determines
whether a character of the user terminal satisfies a preset
condition for establishing a direct tunnel.
[0149] When the mobility management network element determines that
the character of the user terminal does not satisfy the preset
condition for establishing a direct tunnel, a downlink direct
tunnel between the radio access network and the serving gateway is
not established for the user, so as to reduce the number of
signaling messages that need to be processed, and reduce signaling
load of the serving gateway; when the mobility management network
element determines that the character of the user terminal
satisfies the preset condition for establishing a direct tunnel,
step 608 is performed.
[0150] Step 608: When determining that the character of the user
terminal satisfies the preset condition for establishing a direct
tunnel, the mobility management network element sends a bearer
change request message to the serving gateway to establish the
downlink direct tunnel between the radio access network and the
serving gateway, where the bearer change request message includes
the user plane IP address of the RNC and the downlink user plane
tunnel endpoint identifier allocated by the RNC.
[0151] Performing of step 608 is the same as performing of step 308
in the foregoing embodiment. For details, reference may be made to
step 308.
[0152] It should be noted that a condition, for sending a request
message to the serving gateway, described in step 608 of the
present invention may be sending a request message to the serving
gateway when one, a combination of any two, or any combination of
more than two features of the user terminal satisfies the preset
condition for establishing a direct tunnel; optionally, the preset
condition for establishing a direct tunnel is set according to a
specific application scenario.
[0153] Step 609: The serving gateway returns a bearer change
response message to the mobility management network element, where
the bearer change response message is used to confirm that the
direct tunnel has been successfully established according to the
user plane IP address of the RNC and the downlink user plane tunnel
endpoint identifier allocated by the RNC.
[0154] Performing of step 609 is the same as performing of step 309
in the foregoing embodiment. For details, reference may be made to
step 309.
[0155] The serving gateway establishes the downlink direct tunnel
between the gateway and the radio access network according to the
user plane IP address of the RNC and the downlink user plane tunnel
endpoint identifier allocated by the RNC, and a downlink service
data packet corresponding to the PDP context of the user terminal
is sent to the radio access network through the direct tunnel by
using the serving gateway.
[0156] Step 610: The mobility management network element receives
the bearer change response message sent by the serving gateway.
[0157] In a method for establishing a direct tunnel provided by
this embodiment of the present invention, when a character of a
user terminal satisfies a preset condition for establishing a
direct tunnel, a bearer change request message is sent to a serving
gateway, and the serving gateway establishes a downlink direct
tunnel between a radio access network and the serving gateway
according to the user plane IP address of an RNC and the downlink
user plane tunnel endpoint identifier allocated by the RNC that are
included in the bearer change request message, and sends a bearer
change response message to a mobility management network element.
In this embodiment of the present invention, according to the
character of the user terminal, a downlink direct tunnel
established for the user terminal that frequently switches between
a connected state and an idle state is reduced. Therefore, this can
reduce the number of signaling messages that need to be processed
on a GGSN or an SGW, reduce signaling load on the GGSN or the SGW,
and meanwhile ensure delay requirements of some services.
[0158] Corresponding to the method embodiments provided in this
embodiment of the present invention, this embodiment of the present
invention provides an apparatus for establishing a direct tunnel,
where the apparatus may be a mobility management network element.
As shown in FIG. 7, the apparatus includes a sending unit 701, a
receiving unit 702, and a determining unit 703.
[0159] The sending unit 701 is configured to send a radio access
bearer assignment request to a radio access network to establish an
uplink direct tunnel between the radio access network and a
gateway. The radio access bearer assignment request includes a user
plane Internet Protocol IP address of the gateway and an uplink
user plane tunnel endpoint identifier allocated by the gateway. The
gateway includes a data gateway or a serving gateway.
[0160] The receiving unit 702 is configured to receive a radio
access bearer assignment response sent by the radio access network.
The radio access bearer assignment response is used to confirm that
the uplink direct tunnel between the radio access network and the
gateway has been successfully established. The radio access bearer
assignment response includes a user plane Internet Protocol IP
address of a radio network controller RNC and a downlink user plane
tunnel endpoint identifier allocated by the RNC. The determining
unit 703 is configured to determine that a character of a user
terminal satisfies a preset condition for establishing a direct
tunnel.
[0161] The character of the user terminal includes at least one of
a signaling character of the user terminal and a service attribute
of the user terminal, where the signaling character of the user
terminal includes at least one of a frequency of switch between a
connected state and an idle state of the user terminal and a type
of the user terminal, and the service attribute of the user
terminal includes at least one of a duration of a service
corresponding to a PDP context of the user terminal or a bearer
context of the user terminal, a type of the service, a duration of
downlink data packets corresponding to the PDP context of the user
terminal or the bearer context of the user terminal, a quantity of
the downlink data packets, traffic of the downlink data packets,
and a time interval between the downlink data packets.
[0162] Optionally, the preset condition for establishing a direct
tunnel is configured on the mobility management network element; or
the preset condition for establishing a direct tunnel is configured
on an operation and maintenance network element or a parameter
delivery network element and is delivered to the mobility
management network element.
[0163] According to determining that the character of the user
terminal satisfies the preset condition for establishing a direct
tunnel, the sending unit 701 sends a request message to the
gateway, where the request message is used to establish a downlink
direct tunnel between the radio access network and the gateway;
[0164] the receiving unit 702 is configured to receive a response
message sent by the gateway, where the response message is used to
confirm that the downlink direct tunnel between the radio access
network and the gateway has been successfully established.
[0165] Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the determining unit 703
includes a first counting module 7031 and a first determining
module 7032. The first counting module 7031 in the determining unit
703 is configured to count the frequency of switch between the
connected state and the idle state of the user terminal. The first
determining module 7032 in the determining unit 703 is configured
to determine that the frequency falls in a preset frequency
range.
[0166] The determining unit 703 is specifically configured to
determine that the type of the user terminal falls in a preset type
range.
[0167] Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the determining unit 703
includes a second counting module 7033 and a second determining
module 7034.
[0168] It should be noted that, as indicated by the dashed line in
FIG. 7, functions of the determining unit may be completed by the
first counting module 7031 and the first determining module 7032
and may also be completed by the second counting module 7033 and
the second determining module 7034.
[0169] The second counting module 7033 in the determining unit 703
is configured to count a duration of a received service
corresponding to the PDP context of the user terminal or the bearer
context of the user terminal, and the second determining module
7034 in the determining unit 703 is configured to determine that
the duration falls in a preset duration range; or
[0170] the second counting module 7033 is configured to count the
quantity of the downlink data packets corresponding to the PDP
context of the user terminal or the bearer context of the user
terminal, and the second determining module 7034 is configured to
determine that the quantity falls in a preset quantity range;
or
[0171] the second counting module 7033 is configured to count the
traffic of the downlink data packets corresponding to the PDP
context of the user terminal or the bearer context of the user
terminal, and the second determining module 7034 is configured to
determine that the traffic falls in a preset traffic range; or
[0172] the second counting module 7033 is configured to count the
time interval between the downlink data packets corresponding to
the PDP context of the user terminal or the bearer context of the
user terminal, and the second determining module 7034 is configured
to determine that the time interval falls in a preset time interval
range.
[0173] Further, the determining unit 703 is specifically configured
to determine that the type of the service corresponding to the PDP
context of the user terminal or the bearer context of the user
terminal is a preset service type.
[0174] Further, in a GPRS network, the sending unit 701 sends a PDP
context update request message to the data gateway, where the PDP
context update request message includes the user plane IP address
of the RNC and the downlink user plane tunnel endpoint identifier
allocated by the RNC. In an EPS network, the sending unit 701 sends
a bearer change request message to the serving gateway. The bearer
change request message includes the user plane IP address of the
RNC and the downlink user plane tunnel endpoint identifier
allocated by the RNC. The data gateway or the serving gateway
establishes the direct tunnel between the gateway and the radio
access network according to the user plane IP address of the RNC
and the downlink user plane tunnel endpoint identifier allocated by
the RNC, and a downlink service data packet corresponding to the
PDP context of the user terminal or the bearer context of the user
terminal is sent to the radio access network through the direct
tunnel by using the data gateway or the serving gateway.
[0175] Further, in the GPRS network, the receiving unit 702
receives a PDP context update response message sent by the data
gateway. In the EPS network, the receiving unit 702 receives a
bearer change response message sent by the serving gateway.
[0176] In an apparatus for establishing a direct tunnel provided by
this embodiment of the present invention, it is determined that a
preset condition a sending unit sends a request message to a
gateway, and the gateway establishes a downlink direct tunnel
between a radio access network and the gateway according to the
user plane IP address of an RNC and the downlink user plane tunnel
endpoint identifier allocated by the RNC that are included in the
request message, and sends a response message to a mobility
management network element. In this embodiment of the present
invention, according to the character of the user terminal, a
downlink direct tunnel established for the user terminal that
frequently switches between a connected state and an idle state is
reduced. Therefore, this can reduce the number of signaling
messages that need to be processed on a GGSN or an SGW, reduce
signaling load on the GGSN or the SGW, and meanwhile ensure delay
requirements of some services.
[0177] The foregoing descriptions are merely specific embodiments
of the present invention, but are not intended to limit the
protection scope of the present invention. Any variation or
replacement readily figured out by a person skilled in the art
within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention shall
fall within the protection scope of the present invention.
Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be
subject to the protection scope of the claims.
* * * * *